Super Rugby Pacific 2025: Blues, Highlanders, Crusaders, Chiefs, Hurricanes, Moana Pasifika name first-round squads

Codie Taylor will miss up to three weeks. Photo / Photosport

• Super Rugby Pacific 2025 begins on Friday with a New Zealand derby between the Crusaders and Hurricanes, kickoff 7.05pm.
• The Highlanders and Waratahs round off the opening evening in Sydney, kickoff 9.35pm.
• Early Saturday afternoon sees the Fijian Drua open their season against the Brumbies in Suva at 4.35pm before the eagerly-anticipated 2024 final repeat between the Blues and Chiefs kicks off at 7.05pm at Eden Park.
• Moana Pasifika round out the Kiwi-based franchises against the Western Force on Sunday at 9.45pm in Perth.

All six teams based in the Land of the Long White Cloud have released their team lists for round one (* denotes debutant):

Crusaders team to face Hurricanes:

1. Tamaiti Williams 2. Ioane Moananu 3. Fletcher Newell 4. Scott Barrett 5. Antonio Shalfoon 6. Cullen Grace 7. Ethan Blackadder 8. Christian Lio-Willie 9. Noah Hotham 10. Taha Kemara 11. Sevu Reece 12. David Havili (c) 13. Levi Aumua 14. Chay Fihaki 15. Will Jordan Reserves: 16. Manumaua Letiu 17. George Bower 18. Sam Matenga 19. Tahlor Cahill 20. Corey Kellow 21. Kyle Preston 22. James O’Connor* 23. Dallas McLeod

Unavailable: George Bell, Codie Taylor, Fletcher Anderson, Rivez Reihana, Seb Calder, Quentin Strange, Dom Gardiner, Jamie Hannah, Aki Tuivailala, Johnny McNicholl, Braydon Ennor, Finlay Brewis, Kershawl Sykes-Martin

James O'Connor will make his full Crusaders debut off the bench. Photo / Photosport

Hurricanes team to face Crusaders:

1.Xavier Numia 2. Jacob Devery 3. Tevita Mafileo 4. Caleb Delany 5. Isaia Walker-Leawere 6. Brad Shields (cc) 7. Du’Plessis Kirifi (cc) 8. Brayden Iose 9. Cameron Roigard 10. Harry Godfrey 11. Kini Naholo 12. Peter Umaga-Jensen 13. Bailyn Sullivan 14. Fatafehi Fineanganofo* 15. Callum Harkin* Reserves: 16. Raymond Tuputupu 17. Pouri Rakete-Stones 18. Pasilio Tosi 19. Hugo Plummer 20. Peter Lakai 21. Ereatara Enari* 22. Riley Hohepa 23. Ngatungane Punivai

Unavailable: Zach Gallagher, Daniel Sinkinson, Ruben Love, Lucas Cashmore, Brett Cameron, Asafo Aumua, Tyrel Lomax, Devan Flanders

Cam Roigard. Photo / Photosport

Highlanders team to face Waratahs:

1. Ethan de Groot 2. Soane Mikaele Vikena* 3. Saula Ma’u 4. Fabian Holland 5. Mitch Dunshea 6. Lui Naeata* 7. Sean Withy 8. Hugh Renton (CC) 9. Nathan Hastie 10. Taine Robinson 11. Caleb Tangitau 12. Timoci Tavatavanawai (CC) 13. Tanielu Tele’a 14. Michael Manson* 15. Sam Gilbert Reserves: 16. Henry Bell 17. Daniel Lienert-Brown 18. Sefo Kautai 19. Nikora Broughton 20. Veveni Lasaqa 21. Folau Fakatava 22. Cameron Millar 23. Finn Hurley

Unavailable: Oliver Haig (foot / 9 weeks ), Jonah Lowe (ACL / 7 weeks ) Thomas Umaga-Jensen (shoulder / 2 weeks), TK Howden (hamstring / 4 weeks), Jona Nareki (ankle /5 weeks) Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens (neck / 9 weeks)

Timoci Tavatavanawai. Photo / Photosport

Blues team to face Chiefs:

1. Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 2. Ricky Riccitelli, 3. Marcel Renata, 4. Laghlan McWhannell, 5. Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 6. Anton Segner, 7. Dalton Papali’i, 8. Cameron Suafoa, 9. Taufa Funaki, 10. Harry Plummer, 11. Caleb Clarke, 12. AJ Lam, 13. Rieko Ioane, 14. Mark Tele’a, 15. Beauden Barrett. Reserves: 16. Nathaniel Pole, 17. Josh Fusitua, 18. Angus Ta’avao, 19. Che Clark, 20. Adrian Choat, 21. Fin Christie, 22. Corey Evans, 23. Cole Forbes.

Unavailable: Kurt Eklund (groin), James Mullan (concussion), Sam Darry (shoulder, season), PJ Sheck (shoulder), Hoskins Sotutu (knee), Zarn Sullivan (foot), Stephen Perofeta (calf), Ben Ake (shoulder).

Beauden Barrett in preseason action against the Hurricanes. Photo / Photosport

Chiefs team to face Blues:

1. Ollie Norris 2. Brodie McAlister *3. George Dyer 4. Naitoa Ah Kuoi 5. Josh Lord 6. Simon Parker 7. Kaylum Boshier 8. Luke Jacobson (c) 9. Xavier Roe 10. Josh Jacomb 11. Etene Nanai-Seturo 12. Quinn Tupaea 13. Daniel Rona 14. Leroy Carter 15. Damian McKenzie Reserves: 16. Bradley Slater 17. Aidan Ross 18. Reuben O’Neill 19. Tupou Vaa’i 20. Samipeni Finau 21. Cortez Ratima 22. Anton Lienert-Brown 23. Emoni Narawa

Unavailable: Wallace Sititi, Liam Coombes Fabling, Fiti Sa, Samisoni Taukiaho, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi

Wallace Sititi will likely miss the entire 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season. Photo / Photosport

Moana Pasifika team to face Force

1. James Lay 2. Millennium Sanerivi * 3. Feleti Sae-Ta’ufo’ou * 4. Samuel Slade 5. Allan Craig 6. Miracle Faiilagi 7. Sione Havili Talitui 8. Ardie Savea (c) * 9. Jonathan Taumateine 10. Jackson Garden-Bachop * 11. Kyren Taumoefolau 12. Lalomilo Lalomilo * 13. Pepesana Patafilo 14. Solomon Alaimalo * 15. William Havili Reserves: 16. Sama Malolo 17. Tito Tuipulotu * 18. Chris Apoua 19. Tom Savage 20. Ola Tauelangi 21. Semisi Tupou Tailoa * 22. Melani Matavao 23. Danny Toala

Unavailable: Lotu Inisi, Neria Fomai and Pone Fa’amausili.

Ardie Savea will start in Moana Pasifika's season-opener. Photo / Photosport

For live commentary of Super Rugby matches featuring New Zealand teams, go to GOLD SPORT or iHeartRadio

Join the Alternative Commentary Collective on Hauraki or iHeartRadio